DailyTech - Nintendo Wireless Router Announced for Japan

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Gadgets Nintendo Wireless Router Announced for Japan
Stephen Kamizuru (Blog) - September 11, 2008 10:55 AM

26 comment(s) - last by Samus.. on Sep 12 at 8:25 PM

(Source: Famitsu.com)

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Network Adapter works with the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS

Nintendo has announced the "Nintendo Wi-Fi Network Adapter" for the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS. The adaptor will go on sale on September 18th in Japan for ¥5,800 ($53 USD) on Nintendo's homepage. This wireless LAN router can be used with the Nintendo Wii and DS as well as PCs and other devices.

The Nintendo Wi-Fi Network Adaptor has a switch for three modes on the back: "Router", "Bridge" and "Auto". The “Router” allows the device to act as a normal router while the "Bridge" setting connects to another router and then communicates with the Nintendo DS and Wii. "Auto" apparently can automatically switch the household's network over automatically.

Website GameCyte went in to an analysis of the “Nintendo Wi-Fi Network Adapter” summarizing what it can do and why Nintendo may have released it.

One of the features is One-touch, simultaneous WPA and WEP security for Wii and DS. After the latest firmware update, the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo DS offer support for Buffalo Technology’s AirStation OneTouch Secure System, or AOSS. In combination with a Buffalo AOSS-enabled router, users of these and other AOSS devices would be able to press a single button to create a secure internet connection without entering passwords or changing network settings.

AOSS has another use; the ability to connect a Nintendo DS in a household that uses secure WPA encryption. It did so by forcing the entire connection down to the lowest-common-denominator WEP security for the duration of use.

The "Nintendo Wi-Fi Network Adapter" that Nintendo of Japan has announced today improves upon AOSS with a new feature they’re calling “Multisecurity”. When connected to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Network Adapter using AOSS, Nintendo says that Multisecurity allows both DS and Wii to run simultaneously using different encryption schemes. The DS will connect using a WEP key while the Nintendo Wii and other devices retain a secure WPA encryption.

Currently there are no plans to release the device in the United States.

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A Good Value for One Feature

By Nightskyre on 9/11/2008 12:38:36 PM , Rating: 5

This wireless router provides one key feature that most routers do not - simultaneous WEP and WPA encryption. I have a Linksys 802.11 b/g router at home that can support WEP or WPA encryption, but not both at the same time. My wife wanted to get her DS online and we had to drop to WEP encryption to do so, which was not acceptable to me. Something like this would allow me to maintain higher level security while allowing the DS to connect. And that, my friends, is why it's worth $53.

RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By kkwst2 on 9/11/2008 1:02:50 PM , Rating: 4

Yeah, you could set it up with two separate routers, one cheap one set up as an access point on a different band and using WEP with MAC authentication and only allow the DS MAC address to connect. Then all your other traffic could be on the main router. That should minimize your vulnerability.

You might could do that cheaper than $53 by looking for deals, but it's certainly not as simple or elegant. The price is not outrageous.

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RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By iheartzoloft on 9/11/2008 2:32:47 PM , Rating: 2

I agree that the ability to use both encryption methods does have its benefits. I have worked with many different ap's and routers from various vendors. Are there other production units anywhere close in price point that have this multi-encryption capability available now? I would appreciate a link if you know of one.

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RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By Devo2007 on 9/11/2008 7:05:29 PM , Rating: 2

For those who are tech-savvy, having a router that can be flashed to DD-WRT can do this. Nintendo's solution might be the cheapest and easiest solution though.

Of course, if Nintendo actually thought to include WPA encryption on the DS in the first place, things would have been better. Yes, I realize WPA wasn't really around when the original DS came out, but they should have added it with the DS Lite.

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RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By n00bxqb on 9/12/2008 2:31:52 AM , Rating: 2

The D-Link DIR-655 is an excellent one. I'm actually running that same setup (WPA2 for my computers, WEP + MAC address filtering + Website filtering for the Wii). I got mine on sale for $95 @ Staples.

I know the Linksys WRT600N and WRT610N support two simultaneous broadcasts, but not both on the same frequency (one would be 5 GHz, requiring Wireless N adapters that support both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz).

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RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By sprockkets on 9/11/2008 3:48:34 PM , Rating: 5

You are only as strong as your weakest link. Think about it, will a hacker when sniffing see both WPA and WEP and say,"I'll try to break the WPA!"?

There is no point to having both. For that matter, there is no point to WEP either. If your wireless adapter cannot handle WPA, it's time to upgrade. WPA has been out since the SP2 days, or around 2004.

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RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By leexgx on 9/11/2008 7:37:41 PM , Rating: 2

think the ds does not work with WPA, works with WEP only (never been able to make it work yet)

most wifi sniffers are most liksy just going to connect to an open router as its very easy to find them down every street you go down (UK)

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RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By Samus on 9/12/2008 8:25:14 PM , Rating: 2

This thing is probably made by Buffalo, like all of Nintendo's wireless gear. Which isn't bad, Buffalo products are aight!

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RE: A Good Value for One Feature

By afkrotch on 9/12/2008 9:16:28 AM , Rating: 3

Wep, no wep. Doesn't matter. It's easy to get into regardless. If your only security is wep, you really aren't secure.

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Not The Best Value

By mmntech on 9/11/2008 11:39:53 AM , Rating: 2

It's a bit on the expensive side at $53. I found a couple 802.11n routers on Newegg in that price range now. The TP-Link TL-WR941ND for example is only $59 on sale right now. I assume Nintendo's is only 802.11g. It only has one wired port too. I suppose if you need to set up Wifi access quickly, this will work, but it's not the best value.

RE: Not The Best Value

By omnicronx on 9/11/2008 11:48:34 AM , Rating: 3

It all depends on what the actual features are, if by bridge they mean that you merely connect this router to another router with an ethernet cable, then yes it is a tad bit expensive. But if it acts as an extender, then its well worth the 60 bucks.

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RE: Not The Best Value

By achintya on 9/11/2008 3:37:08 PM , Rating: 2

I guess by bridging they mean using this as a wireless repeater/extender and not using a LAN cable. Also remember this is a Nintendo branded product for their Consoles and not a regular router. Therefore it will contain some markup from their side.

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Pointless?

By DanoruX on 9/11/2008 11:42:23 AM , Rating: 2

You can get a Linksys b/g router for the same price and have more ports and features....

RE: Pointless?

By Polynikes on 9/11/2008 1:50:15 PM , Rating: 2

Another thing: Most people that need one probably have a wireless router already. The market for this thing cannot be good. This seems like a terrible idea.

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Sorry, couldn't resist.

By djc208 on 9/11/2008 12:49:33 PM , Rating: 3

The new Nintedo Wii-fi router!

Hackers have to beat the 127 level Super Mario firewall before they can gain access.

Re-badge?

By chmilz on 9/11/2008 12:27:20 PM , Rating: 2

Looks just like a Linksys WRT54GC, with a white shell minus 2 wired ports. I bought one of these 3 years ago on sale for $40.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Produ...

If it has Buffalo tech in it

By sprockkets on 9/11/2008 3:55:29 PM , Rating: 2

That probably explains why it won't come to the US. Buffalo still has an injunction against them thanks to CSIRO. Of course, they went to court in Texas over their patent.

So that's why

By b534202 on 9/11/2008 6:19:35 PM , Rating: 2

So that's why Nintendo has resisted letting DS connect with WPA while having no problem with Wii using it - to encourge people to buy this router ...

Router

By AddX on 9/12/2008 10:10:38 AM , Rating: 2

The article mentioned Buffalo Technology AOSS.

So just get a router that supports that feature like Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 for around $60 and you will have that feature + 4 lan ports + ability to flash DD-WRT if you needed to be like a geek and want to activirate the amplifier it has for more WIFI coverage.

Aesthetics

By Zandros on 9/11/08, Rating: -1

RE: Aesthetics

By piroroadkill on 9/11/2008 11:24:36 AM , Rating: 2

What? It looks perfectly fine to me, and is pretty damn small

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RE: Aesthetics

By jgvandemeer on 9/11/2008 11:26:31 AM , Rating: 2

It's small and white. What sort of "coherent design" did you want?

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RE: Aesthetics

By Zandros on 9/11/08, Rating: -1

RE: Aesthetics

By BansheeX on 9/11/2008 12:06:50 PM , Rating: 5

quote:
Other than that it is white with blue LEDs, I can see nothing that connects its design with the Wii.

It's also the same shape. And that about defines the Wii. Are you blind and retarded or something?

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RE: Aesthetics

By jRaskell on 9/11/2008 12:20:07 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
Also, downrated for commenting on Nintendos lack of design philosophy? You are hilarious.

It's most likely you were downrated because you're apparently the only one that perceives a lack of design philosophy.

The Wii is a square white box, with some buttons and a disk slot in the front. The router is also a square white box with a couple of status indicator lights on it. Aesthetics can be very subjective, but as far as a coherent design, it really doesn't get much more coherent than two simple white boxes. I mean really, what else does the Wii offer for design cues that could have been integrated into their router to provide a more coherent design?

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RE: Aesthetics

By masher2

(blog) on 9/11/2008 1:06:32 PM , Rating: 2

I wouldn't get too upset over the rating. I've seen some of my posts go from -1 to 5 back to -1 again in a few hours time.

Regarding the 'coherent' design, given this is a wireless router that very possibly won't even be within sight of the Wii, why do you perceive that as a necessary criteria?

Personally, I think the only thing they could have done to make it more like the Wii was the slanting front. I'm sure they modelled that, then instantly decided that having it look exactly like a minature Wii was over the top.

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